Whether you’re a dabbling flexitarian or a full-on vegan, National Vegetarian Week is a great excuse to track down that vegetarian joint you’ve been meaning to try for aeons, or to switch your Sunday splurge on roast chicken for something a bit more plant-based.
To celebrate seven days of all things meat-free, I’ve rustled up a few of my fave vegetarian restaurants and cafes in the UK. These all have something a little different going for them – whether that means serving a vegan afternoon tea in the middle of an ancient forest or going the extra mile to create halloumi ‘fish finger’ butties – each of these restaurants tries a little harder than the obligatory veggie burger.
Fuel Cafe Bar, Withington, Manchester
Smack-bang in the student stronghold of Withington, Fuel is an independent veggie-haven that’s got the basics covered with an array of vegetarian and vegan classics, like chilli burritos and the halloumi ‘fish finger’ butty.
Once you’ve tried those you can move on to some no-holds-barred indulgence, such as the breakfast beast, a veggie fry-up toasted in a wrap with peanut butter (a must-try, seriously), plus the burger and boozy milkshake nights once a month, with patties that are a million miles away from the ‘veggie’ (read: wood-chip) ones you get at the kebab van, and they even come served with vegan ’slaw.
If you’re visiting Manchester for the weekend, hop on the train over – you've got until 4pm to get a breakfast feast ordered in, so no-one’s in a hurry.
Goji Cafe and Deli, York
Although a lot of pubs are usually happy to rustle up a vegetarian option, mushroom risotto more than once a week can get a bit samey, which is why the Goji Cafe and Deli, right round the corner from York’s historic Minster, is the perfect break from the well-worn veggie alternatives available in the city’s 250-plus pubs.
If the sun’s on your side, grab a seat in the courtyard – the perfect place to stave off hangovers with homemade vegan waffles and maple syrup. Come lunchtime, the Goji hotdog will satisfy even the most vehement meat eaters in your crew, while the organic stir-fried rice with arame seaweed, seeds and tofu is the best bowl-of-anything to delve into after a day of sightseeing.
Muffins Galore!, Braxton Gardens, Hampshire
Billed as the New Forest’s best kept secret, Braxton Gardens’s new tearoom, Muffins Galore! feels like a Room of Requirement for vegetarians and vegans, as well as anyone on a gluten-free diet.
Sip on restorative hot chocolate in the conservatory on blustery days, or stroll around the fruit trees in the walled garden, all of which supply the tearoom with seasonal jam and conserves. If you’ve long-since given up on looking for vegan or gluten-free options for afternoon tea, the alternative cakes on offer will make a hike across the New Forest heathland a pretty sweet excuse for trying out at least two sponges.
Mildred’s, Soho, London
Birthdays, graduations, Bat Mitzvahs and my-parents-are-in-town vibes are all go here, because Mildred’s is something special.
Not only is it still a total novelty, even in London, to have a vegetarian menu that also features so many vegan choices, but the attention to detail means Mildred’s is a worthy opponent to any of Soho’s countless culinary temptations.
Kir royales and elderflower martinis are a fave to kick off a TGI Friday evening, and no-one should leave the premises without trying the vegan chocolate peanut butter brownie.
The Clapton Hart, Hackney, London
Not strictly a vegetarian pub, but if you’ve ever tried persuading your whole friendship group to go veggie for their Sunday roast, you’ll know compromise is the name of the game, and The Clapton Hart is no hard-sell.
While all the food at this Hackney institution is well-executed, the vegetarian and vegan options are consistently a step above the rest, with a vegan roast available on Sundays and at least two vegetarian and one vegan option on the main menu.
So forget food ethics or meat industry cover-ups, because it’ll be the tobacco onions, which come with the 3 bean vegan burger, that your pals end up fighting over.
Follow Ava on Twitter @GuacAndRoll
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.